Sober Second Thoughts: In with a chance

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:43:00 -0400

There are different ways to allow stoppage time goals.

There is the way TFC usually does it � catastrophic, darkly funny and generally a cluster-you-know-what.

Then there is the way it happened last night � a world class strike pulled out of the collective ass of their opponent.

The former is reason to fret about and demand heads over. The latter provides a case to shake your head and wonder when this team�s luck is going to turn itself around.

TFC has been unlucky this year. They�ve been crap a lot too, but to discount the fact that they�ve had an unusual amount of goal-line clearances and hit posts is to be unfair and incomplete in your

Vancouver Whitecaps v Toronto Photo Gallery

Thu, 17 May 2012 01:45:00 -0400

Christopher Vose is AFTN's photographer and here is a selection of his photos from the Whitecaps' Voyageurs Cup game on Wednesday night against Toronto.

You can view all of Christopher's Whitecaps photographs at ConsulPhotography.com.

Be sure to check his photos daily, as he is will have regular shots up from training, as well at Caps matches at all levels.

All of his photos are copyrighted but are available to purchase. Just contact him via his profile to the left.

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Advantage Toronto but Hassli gives Vancouver vital lifeline

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:30:00 -0400

Attachment 1878The Voyageurs Cup hasn�t been kind to Vancouver over the years.

If the Whitecaps go on to lose the 2012 title, then they will have no-one to blame but themselves this year, after a flat home performance against a surprisingly attack minded Toronto side.

Vancouver had a couple of keys going into this game. Securing the win and keeping a clean sheet were both musts.

In the end they achieved neither, but a spectacular last ditch equaliser by Eric Hassli has at least given them a lifeline heading in to the

The name game

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:02:00 -0400

Speaking to MLSsoccer.com today, Martin Rennie infuriatingly referred to the Voyageurs Cup as the �Canadian Cup.� He�s hardly the first person to do so. Many people, IN ALL FOUR CITIES IN THE COMPETITION, have made that mistake. It doesn�t excuse it. You can be sure that Rennie, or others, would be quick to correct themselves if they were to slip up with the sponsors name � Amway Canadian Championship, not Nutrilite Canadian Championship, thank you very much � so it�s also reasonable that it be expected that the cup be correctly identified.

For those new to following the game

Match Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps v Toronto

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:45:00 -0400

Attachment 1876KEY PLAYERS

ATTACKING

If TFC plays a similar system like the first leg against Montreal, then Vancouver will need to be precise with their passing and Davide Chiumiento will especially need to find the small windows to set up the strikers. The Swiss playmaker has picked up an assist in the last five goals Vancouver has scored in all competitions, including three against Edmonton.

The visitors from Toronto will need the pace of Ryan Johnson up top

West Coast Soccer Weekly - Episode 17 (Guests: Paul Ritchie and Carl Valentine)

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 -0400

Attachment 1875Episode 17. Very apt really.

It's the number of points that Toronto are behind Vancouver in the MLS standings, in the week that TFC are coming to town in Voyageurs Cup action.

Four big Cup games coming up for Vancouver in the next eleven days, two Canadian and two Cascadian, so this week's edition of "West Coast Soccer Weekly" is a Cup special.

There's lots of Voyageurs Cup talk and we also look ahead to the visit of Pacific northwest rivals Seattle on Saturday.

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Toronto FC match preview � You can�t escape history

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:39:00 -0400

By: Michael Crampton

If attempted redemption has been a theme of Toronto FC�s season to date then maybe, for once, it�s actually better applied to their opponents in tonight�s Canadian Championship final first leg. As in incredible as it sounds, over a decade of its existence, the Vancouver Whitecaps have never lifted the Voyageurs Cup. Not in the days that it was a fan created challenge trophy nor since the formalization of the tournament as the gateway to the CONCACAF Champions League for Canadian clubs. For an organization that values history and styles itself a leading soccer organization on the continent that has to be frustrating.

There�s been some near misses, heartache, heartbreak,

What winning the Voyageurs Cup means to Vancouver Whitecaps

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:00:00 -0400

Attachment 1873The 2012 Voyageurs Cup final will be played out over the next two Wednesdays, hopefully with some good football on display and new Champions being crowned by the end of it all.

It will be a battle between a Vancouver Whitecaps side looking for their first ever Canadian Championship, and a bit of revenge after last year's thunderstorm debacle, and a struggling Toronto side who have shown a fine Cup pedigree this season and are looking to lift the trophy for the fourth consecutive year.

Disappointingly, some of the Whitecaps fanbase are seemingly

An open letter to David "Junior" Hoilett

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:27:00 -0400

Dear David,

Pleased to make your acquaintance. Can I call you Junior? Everyone else does, so, I hope that's cool.

I have to ask: Wow, what did you make of that Premier League season? What a roller coaster! What an ending!

Now, of course, things didn't go so well at Blackburn. Sorry about that. Given your long-time association with the club, it couldn't have been easy to endure those results, and the ultimate relegation -- not to mention the ongoing, sometimes-vitriolic responses from Rovers supporters. And the chicken. That was kinda weird, eh?

Things look bright for you, though. A true breakout campaign. You're being touted as one of the most

SoccerPlus - Weekly Commentary & Analysis Show

Tue, 15 May 2012 02:25:00 -0400

Attachment 1872
Record crowd, musical chair and a full slate of guests on this week's show.

We talk Impact vs Galaxy before a Canadian record-setting crowd for a pro game with Pat Leduc (RDS/LaPresse), Fred Lord (TVA Sports) and Marc Tougas (CP).

We touch base with Duane Rollins (CSN's 24th Minute) to discuss the musical chair game at BMO Field on Monday and revisit MLS' weekend activities with Jonathan Tannewald (Philly.com) and Lisa Erickson (www.CenterLineSoccer.com).